Carr St Mission: Joy

Today's blog post is written by Gino Villalovas. Watch out- God is going to do awesome things with this guy.

As I look back on the first face to face encounter I ever had with Jesus. I remember seeing the scars on His face and neck and the holes in His hands and feet and I remember the softness and the love in His voice. Thinking of the horrible things He suffered for my sake, and He said, it was worth it. And I remember being dumbfounded that a King as mighty, and glorious, and powerful as Him would ever care about me. Let alone care so much that He would lay down his life to save me.

The perfect spotless Lamb endured the cross for our sins

Hebrews 12 says, "For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross" This year going down to Mexico I wanted to see people through Gods eyes and when I look with Him and I see the broken people of Mexico being redeemed and the light of God's glory beginning to flicker and shine again in them, I felt that joy. The joy where I kept saying this is worth it. This is worth flying all the way down here, suffering in the heat, taking time off of work.

He died.. but Satan didn't realize the victory wasn't won.

When we'd first arrive at the Colonias we didn't feel that joy, there was a heaviness over the neighborhoods, they were excited to see us but we could see there was something missing. As the evening went on we could see them responding and their hearts being softened, even the simple joy that came from us doing the chicken dance, but by the end of the night we could see the light starting to flicker, we could see that God had touched them.

He rose again, conquering death and the grave.

Several times after i prayed for someone they would say Thank you and I could see the sincerity in their faces and the joy in their heart. By the time we left we could see people walking away with smiles on their faces and hope in their heart. This trip was very different for me from last years trip. I left there with a longing in my heart to share the joy we find in Jesus with the people of Mexico.